[meteorite-list] Advice please; new AZ meteorite classificat ion

From: Matson, Robert <ROBERT.D.MATSON_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Tue Aug 23 18:12:48 2005
Message-ID: <BE076B8CCE4CFE4D9598230D888B2ADF938390_at_0005-its-exs01.mail.saic.com>

Hi Norm,

Didn't see any replies to your message about the Arizona meteorite
you sent to UCLA for classification, so I thought I'd offer my
condolences and advice.

> I just checked on the status of the new Arizona meteorite I sent
> to Alan Rubin for classification about 6 months ago. He never
> received it. Lost in the mail!

First order of business would be to confirm the address, but I suspect
you've already done so with Alan. Your unfortunate experience is
probably the main reason I've hand-couriered my meteorites up to UCLA:
time-consuming and much more expensive, but at least I know that they'll
get there and get there safely. Obviously this isn't a realistic
option for you, so you're stuck depending on the U.S. mail (which is
nevertheless probably the best in the world).

Even with hand delivery, specimens can get lost or possibly misfiled.
(This has only happened once to me out of about hundred meteorites,
which is pretty impressive given how many meteorites UCLA classifies
a year.)

> It breaks my heart to cut off another 25 gm slice to start over
> again. Your counsel please. I planned to sell the specimen,
> whole or in slices after classification. Should I get it
> classified with a further loss of mass, or just sell it right
> now, as is???

Tough call, though if it helps a little, you should know that you only
need to cut off 20 grams for a proper type specimen. Alternatively,
if you choose to sell the remainder whole, you can leave it up to
the buyer to get it classified if he/she chooses.

It's a nice-looking chondrite, by the way -- congrats on your find!

--Rob
Received on Tue 23 Aug 2005 06:12:31 PM PDT